My family and I took a mini vacation to Chicago! We left around noon on friday, checked into our hotel, then headed to Foodlife in Water Tower Place where I got a ginormous veggie-filled salad and a wheat roll. Foodlife is a big food court-style restaurant, but instead of fast food everything is better quality and so delicious. If you’re ever in Chicago, stop by for lunch!

After lunch, I took it upon myself to try on crazy expensive dresses and not buy them…

We stopped to indulge in cupcakes from Sprinkles, aka the best cupcakes ever! Mine was a dark chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting…

The hotel put little boxes of fancy chocolates on our pillows!

And this little gem. Donald Trump would put his face on water bottles…

We woke up to a beautiful view of the Chicago River…

And fell asleep to it, too…

My mom and I in the hotel room… it was so luxurious and relaxing, I didn’t want to leave!

Seeing gingerbread houses like these makes me want to be a pastry chef…

Then I remember that I’m already in college. Though baking all day would be fun.

Look! Fondant snow people!

On Friday, my mom and I went to see The Nutcracker! We go every year, and it is always amazing. I absolutely love the venue: the Auditorium Theater. Being there makes me feel like I’ve traveled back in time, with all the gold and the ornate décor…

It was a great trip with the family, and Chicago is an awesome place to do some last-minute Christmas shopping! I can’t believe Christmas is tomorrow; this year has flown by!